ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 
OF 
THE GENUS TUliACUS (Cuvier) 
By Dr. G. HARTLAUB of Bremen. 
(Translated by H. J., April, 1862.) 
D. E. Ruppell in the first part of the seventeenth vol. of “ Archiv 
fiir Naturgeschichte,”* has submitted the entire species of the genus 
Turacus , Cuv. ( Corytliaix , Illig.) to a critical revision, and made a 
corrective and interesting communication with regard to the true 
Cuculus persa , Linn., for which science owes him thanks. In that 
work, Bonaparte’s Synopsis of these birds, in his “ Conspectus 
Gcncrum Avium,” is justly indicated as not free from errors. The 
same remark will apply to a not unimportant part of Ruppell s 
work, namely, on the statement of the habitat and the geogra- 
phical distribution of each species ; and in regard to this, it may 
be permitted to bring forward here some remarks and additions, 
the publication of which, with a purely scientific object, cannot fail 
to be acceptable even to Dr. Ruppell himself. 
1. TURACUS MERIANI, Rupp. 
“ Habitat unknown.” Brisson, who unmistakeably describes the 
adult fully plumaged bird of this species, names Guinea as its 
habitat ; and this statement finds its confirmation, by a late com- 
munication of the brothers Verreaux, in the “ Revue et Magasin 
de Zoologie” for 1851 ; where, in p. 258, a specimen, apparently 
rather younger, of the same species, coming from Gaboon, is fully 
described. The diagnosis prepared by Bonaparte, says — “ Minor, 
crista viridi, raargine extremo rufo, superciliis vix ullis.” He con- 
siders in the birds from Gaboon, that ho has found the true type 
of Cuculus per so * Linn., and cites thereupon Edwards, pi. 7. 
* Translated on preceding pages. 
